The most recent Good News Magazine (March/April 2006) has an interesting interview (it hasn't been posted online yet) with Bishop Will Willimon. Lots of good questions and answers, but I was struck by this exchange:
Good News Magazine: How different was your role as the Duke University Chapel preacher and that of a traditional pastor?
Bishop Willimon: I thought of myself as a pastor to the Christians on campus, particularly the student Christians. However, I was an institutional chaplain at an institution that no longer has much vital Christian connection. Actually, I came to think of myself as somewhat of a missionary, which, by the way, just how I think local pastors ought to look at themselves! We are not caregivers and caretakers of the flock, but rather are missionaries in a culture that is no longer Christian. Which is a long way of saying that I think I experienced parish ministry as it is going to be in the future. [emphasis mine].
This is one of the reasons why I think Focus on the Family's (pastors, and others) involvement in politics is so misguided. If we are missionaries to a non-Christian culture, we drop a lot of ministerial pursuits. You never see Southern Baptist missionaries in China issuing statements and engaging in political activity to free Tibet or outlaw abortions or to fight for climate control. They are too busy "soul winning". And so should we.
